This is such a good point - in every disaster / zombie movie they somehow have gasoline to run cars but no electricity, when in reality it would be the other way round - any existing gasoline would go off after 6 months.
It's an interesting topic, many view gas station and the oil supply as more reliable.. probably a too-big-to-fail aspect of it. But 'if' it crashes, it's indeed a lot harder to compensate for than electricity.
> It's easier to set up back yard solar panels than a back yard fuel refinery.
If you have lot of open space with sun exposure, true.
For the average small yard, it's easier to buy a 55gal drum of gasoline and a manual pump if you can anticipate the need.
Growing up in hurricane country, it's something some people did. Buy a drum in the summer and store it. If it wasn't needed, just use it up after November (end of hurricane season).
> For the average small yard, it's easier to buy a 55gal drum of gasoline and a manual pump if you can anticipate the need.
If someone on planning on doing this, make sure to get 'boat' gas or ethanol free gas. Gas containing ethanol is not made to be stored and separates/attracts water.
We have a solar array on the roof. It’s great. But the dc->ac converter needs the grid to be active to do its conversion, so when the power goes out no solar. (I suspect it syncs with the grids 60hz...)
If you include a battery backup in your system, you can run without grid power.
When I worked at a power monitoring start up we had a demo house that was charging an electric rav4, so it’s possible.
With a charger that goes down to 750w you can charge your ev off grid with an inverter.
I currently do it with 12 100w panels. I run ac/dc converters to supplement additional dc from the grid to charge at 1500w, but have a 750w charger for emergencies that will charge directly from the sun with no grid. It does require a small buffer battery to work reliably.
ClumsyPilot|5 years ago
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/know-how/does-fuel-go-off....
A group of survivors could scavenge a lot of solar panels, bit good luck restarting an oil refinery.
agumonkey|5 years ago
jjav|5 years ago
If you have lot of open space with sun exposure, true.
For the average small yard, it's easier to buy a 55gal drum of gasoline and a manual pump if you can anticipate the need.
Growing up in hurricane country, it's something some people did. Buy a drum in the summer and store it. If it wasn't needed, just use it up after November (end of hurricane season).
matwood|5 years ago
If someone on planning on doing this, make sure to get 'boat' gas or ethanol free gas. Gas containing ethanol is not made to be stored and separates/attracts water.
http://www.lcbamarketing.com/phase_separation_in_ethanol_ble...
adrianN|5 years ago
unknown|5 years ago
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vbezhenar|5 years ago
gnicholas|5 years ago
olivermarks|5 years ago
acomjean|5 years ago
If you include a battery backup in your system, you can run without grid power.
When I worked at a power monitoring start up we had a demo house that was charging an electric rav4, so it’s possible.
recursive|5 years ago
colinmhayes|5 years ago
nkingsy|5 years ago
I currently do it with 12 100w panels. I run ac/dc converters to supplement additional dc from the grid to charge at 1500w, but have a 750w charger for emergencies that will charge directly from the sun with no grid. It does require a small buffer battery to work reliably.
reissbaker|5 years ago
unknown|5 years ago
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